Biswajit Chatterjee recalls giving ‘Rocky’ title to Sanjay Dutt’s debut project, bonds with Sunil Dutt family

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], September 23 (ANI): Veteran actor Biswajit Chatterjee, who has worked with some of Hindi cinema’s biggest stars including Dilip Kumar, Pran, Raaj Kumar, recalled a special chapter from his decades-long journey in the film industry about giving the title ‘Rocky’ to Sunil Dutt for his son Sanjay Dutt’s debut film.
In a conversation with ANI, Biswajit revealed that he originally owned the title ‘Rocky’ for a film he planned to make as a producer-director with Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha. However, the project was eventually shelved, following which Sunil Dutt approached him while launching Sanjay Dutt in Bollywood and requested the title for his son’s debut film.
The veteran actor recalled that his close relationship with the Dutt family led him to hand over the title without any hesitation.
“Sunil Dutt said, 'Apne bete ke liye film bana raha hu..yeh title Sanju baba ko bahut suit karega' (I am making a film for my son, Biswajit. This title suits Sanju Babu a lot}. Our relationship with him, Sunil Dutt, Nargis Bhabhi, you know, like a family relationship. I said, take it now,” he recalled.
Biswajit said that he refused to accept any payment for the title and gave it to Sunil Dutt because of their personal bond.
“He said, how much money will you take for it? I said, what are you saying…? Next day, I gave it to him. Rocky. I gave the title of the first film..,” he said.
The actor also remembered the emotional moment linked to the film’s release, saying Sanjay Dutt’s mother Nargis Dutt could not witness the release of Rocky as she passed away due to cancer.
'Rocky' is a 1981 romantic action film directed by Sunil Dutt. This film marks the debut of Sanjay Dutt and also stars Tina Munim, Reena Roy, Amjad Khan, Raakhee, Ranjeet, Shakti Kapoor and Aruna Irani in pivotal roles.
Biswajit, who became one of the popular romantic heroes of the 1960s with films like ‘Bees Saal Baad’, ‘Kohraa’, ‘Mere Sanam’ and ‘Kismat’, continues to remain connected with cinema and still enjoys watching films in theatres. (ANI)